Material treating apparatus



March 28, 1939.

C. P. BRIDGES MATER IAL TREATING APPARATUS Filed Ja. 24; 1956- 3 Sheecs-Sheet l March Z8, 1939. p B`R|DGE5 MATERIAL TREAMNG APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 24, 1956 P. BRIDGES 1 2,152,238

MATERIAL TREAT 1 NG APPARATUS A Mal-c1128, 1939. A

Filed Jan. 24,1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ,ZW vp: infor mgm Patented Mar.y 28,

PATENT ns1-lcs ultramar. marmo urrulta'lus ciw-1u r.' andres, Dedham, ama Appunti@ .tammy zi, 19st, serial No. 60,611

' The present invention relates to the treatment of material, and more particularlyto thel absorption of moisture from, or the addition of moisj ture to, web material.

In producing web material, 'of which textile fabrics are one example, there area number o f treating operations to which the web is subjected. One of these operations is that of drying the wet web as it is conveyed along a tentering frame.

i The web travels along the tentering frame in one or a plurality of passes, and is subjected to the action of conditioned airjduring its travel. In one form of apparatus for conditioning the web, heated air is transferred directly through the web l from one face thereof to the other by the estab lishment of a condition of unbalanced' air pres v sure on the opposite faces of the web. The air transferred through the web is then collected and is conveyed away, either to the atmosphere or .back to the web again or partially to both, de-

" various types, it is practically impossible to drive I air through the fabric, thereby requiring some other apparatus which will eifect the desired conditioning. The same is true oi conditioning web material which is not woven, such as leather, veneer, linoleum, or the like.

It is the principal object of the present invention to devise a method by which heavy or closely woven web material through 'which air cannot be transferred may be conditioned quickly and at a low cost. To the accomplishment of this object the present invention contemplates the for mation of a plurality of passes in the web, the discharge of conditioned air between two or more passes, the collecting of Vair frombetween two or more passes, and the conveyance of the air away from the web.

The idea of discharging conditioned air into an enclosure containing the web material so as to dry it, for. example, is broadly old. But with the conventional forms of apparatus for 'doing this there is a waste of heat and powerpand the rate of drying is relatively slow. Moreover, the drying accomplished by apparatus now in use tends to beuneven. particularly for heavy mate, rials, causing undesirable "shading effects in webs oi' delicate coloration.

65 It is therefore a.further object of the present invention to provide an apparatus which insures a rapid, uniform, and even conditioning throughout the web, thereby eliminating shading ef fects. To the accomplishment of this object, the present invention contemplates the even and regulated distribution of air over the full width of A the web so that the web is conditioned as desired in a uniform manner. L

To the accomplishment of these objects and such others as may hereafter appear, the various features ofthe present inventiony reside in certain methods, constructions, combinations, and arrangements of parts,A all described hereinafter and then set forth broadly and in detail in the appended claims. y I The various features of the present inventionA will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings illustrating the best form of the invention at present known to the inventor, in which, i

Figure 1 is a view in sectional elevation looking along a tentering frame equipped with an.

embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 2 4is a view in plan taken along the line 2 2 of Fig. 1:.

' Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of a diffuser; d

1 Fig. 4 is a detail view in lsectional plan of a diiuser, taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. `5 is a detail view^ in sectional elevation of a diffuser taken along the line 6 5 oi' Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a detail view in sectional plan of a collector, taken along the line 6 6 of Fig. 1;

and

F18. 7 is a detail viewr in sectional elevation oi' 'a collector taken along the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6.

The present invention is illustrated in the sired number of web passes, and oi' the vertical type as well as the horizontal. Moreover, a

' Vtentering frame is only one of numerous types oi web conveyors .with which an embodiment of the presentinvention maybe used.

In the'drawlngs the tentering frame is shown more or less diagrammatically since it forms no part of the presentiinvention. Referring to Figs. 1 anda2, the tentering frame comprises uprights l0 along "which extend horizontal runs Il to ,which are secured the lines of tenterhooks or clips (not shown) lfor catching the side edges of the passes of the web of material I2 (Fig. 2). This general construction is well known.

The web of material I2 lis formed by the A-I I, and A-I2, respectively, as shown in Fig.l

1. In the' particular tenterlng frame shown, the

` pass AA---I is the rst pass formed inlthe web upon its entrance into the frame vand-the pass A-I2r is the last pass formed in the web prior to its exit from the frame in a dry condition.

The tentering frame is suitably housed in an enclosure provided with side walls I3 and I4, end walls I5, and a top I6. 'I'his enclosure is located in a roomof the mill or fractory and provides that the heated air to which the web is` subjected is not directed into the room, with resulting discomfort to room occupants and heat and air current losses from the frame and the web.

Referring now to Fig. 1., conveniently mounted on a horizontal support I1 above the enclosure top I6 and at a point near the enclosure wall I3 is an upwardly extending casing forming a chamber I8. Connected to the top of the chamber I8 is a conduit I9 for'connection to astack (not shown) which leads to the atmosphere. Ex-

l tending through the conduit I3 is a shaft '20 on which is mounted a damper 2I for regulating the flow of air through the conduit and stack.

The chamber I3, in addition to extending upwardly from the support i1, also extends over the 'support towards the enclosure wall I4 -to form a mixing chamber 22. Extending through the side wallsKof the mixing chamber 22 is a shaft 23 on which is mounted a damper 24 of such'size that it may close of! the mixing chamber 22 from the chamber I3. 'Ihe top of the mixing chamber is provided with a conduit 25, having a damper lshaft 26and damper 21, for the introduction into themixing chamber 22 of fresh air from the room in which the apparatus is located. Extending across the mixing chamber 22 from the rear end thereof at one side to the vforward end at the opposite side is a perforated .plate 23 through which all the air received by the mixing chamber 75 in Pig. 1 so that the shaft maybe rotated by a i the top.- I'he top 31 and the bottom 33 are 'of the 75 from the chamber Il must travel, as will be taken upinfra. y of the perforated plateis such as not to inter--` fere with the operation of the damper 24.

The dampers 21|, 24, and 21` are preferably con nectedby suitable and well known mechanism whereby they may all be operated simultaneously. One exampleof such mechanism is shown in my copending application, Serial No. 19,505, led May 2, 1935. Byv reason of this o'r similar mechanism the dampers are so con ected that when the damper 24 is open, the dam 2| and 21 are closed and when the damper 24 is closed the dampers 2I and21 are open.

- ber 22 is a heat exchange element 23 shown herein for purposes of disclosure only ascomprising a radiator unit having two sections. The radiator may-be heated in any suitable` manner.

Connected to the heat exchange element 23 which passes through a suitable opening in the enclosure top I6. 'I'he blower 32 is mounted "H9011 a shaft provided with a pulley as shown It will be understood that the shape The upper four branch conduits 35 lead from the main conduit 34 and the lower four branch conduits 35 lead from the main conduit 34A. 'Ihese last named branch conduits may extend directly at a right angle from the main conduit 34A, but the branch conduits leading from the main conduit 34 extend obliquely thereto so that their discharge mouths are aligned with those of the ^branch conduits leading from the main conduit 34A. As shown in Fig. 1 all the branch conduits 35 terminate in vertical spaced relationship adjacent one side of the passes of web material.`

Connected to each of the-branch conduits 35 is a diffuser for discharging against an associated pass or passes of the web air heated by the radiator 29 and impelled by the blower 32. These diiusers are of two kinds, one of which, indicated/at B+I (Fig. 1) `discharges air in one direction (downwardly) and the others of which, indicated at B-2, B--3, B-4, B-5, B-6, B41, and B.8, discharge air in opposite directions (upwardly as Well as downwardly). As shown in Fig. 1, the diffuser B-I is located above the end pass A-I,` so as to discharge air against its upper or outer face. The diffuser B-2 is located between the passes A-I and A-2, so as to discharge air against the inner or under face of the pass A-I and the adjacent face of the pass A-2. It will also be seen that the diffuser B-3 is located between the passes A-3 and A-4, the diffuser B--4v is located between the passes lA4 and 'A-5, the, diffuser B-5 is located between `the passes A-G and A-1, the diffuser B-i is located between the passes A-1 and A-3, the diffuser B-1 is located between the passes A-3 and A-I0, and thediifuser BA-B is located between the passes A-II) and A-II. No diffuser of either type is located between thepasses A-I I and A-I2. With thisconstruction there arediffusers adjacent the opposite faces of the passes A-I, A-,-4, A-1, and A-lll; there are diffusera adjacent only one face of the passes-A-Z, A-3, A-5, A-.3, A-3, A--3,A and A-II; and. there is no diffuser adjacent eitherside of the end pass A-I2. f

consiiermg now the diffusers m detail, ninas 'been stated above that each of the diifusers B-2 through B- 8 is adapted to discharge air both upwardly and downwardly. Viewing Fig. 2, it should, also be statedy that these diii'us'ers, taking B-3 Vas an example, are each adapted to discharge air both to the right and to the left, that is, in opposite directions laterally.' These diffusers are located more or less centrally of the web passes along their length, thereby providing that. the air discharged will travel generally lengthwise of the passes toward their opposite ends.'

Referring now to F1gs..2, 3, 4, and 5,- each' of the diffusera B-2 through B-3 is very roughly Y-shaped, and is provided with side walls 3l,- a at top 31, and' a at bottom 33 parallel to.

vwalls 36 extend only a short distance over the web material and with the top 31 and bottom 38 form a neck 39 for connection with anassociated branch air conduit 35. At their outer ends the side Walls 36 are-curved outwardly asshown at 48. Extending centrally between the side walls 36 and connected to the top 31 and the bottom 38 is avertical partition 4I which ex- 'tends along the top and bottom of the diffuser to the point where they branch off into right and left hand portions, at lwhich point the partition 4I is joined to vertical walls 42 and 43 which form a V and are joined to the edges of the top and bottom of the diiuser. As shown in Fig. 2 the apex of the V formed by the walls 42 and 43 is directed inwardly.

In the construction just described, it`will be seen that each of the diiusers B2 through B-8 comprises a conduit extending part way across theweb material and provided with branches disposed away' from each other and in the general direction of the opposite ends of the web passes. By reason of this construction, air driven by'the blower 32 into the branch conduits 35 and from there into the diifusers is guided by the side walls 36, the top 31, the bottom 38, the partition 4I, and the walls 42 and 43 into currents directed generally in opposite directions.

Viewing Figs. 2 and 4, particularly the latter, it will be seen that if the partition 4| were the only deector intermediate the side walls 36 and if the walls 42 and 43 were alone relied upon to direct the air over the web material, the

air in the neck 39 would tend to pursue a straight course through the diiusers until deected b'y the walls 42 and 43. This would obviously result in an uneven distribution of air over the web material, the 'portions thereof adjacent the walls 42 and 43 receiving the greater part of the air, and the portions of the material adjacent the sidewalls 36 receiving the least air. lThis uneven distribution of air would cause uneven drying of the web materiai.

To offset this tendency for uneven air distribution, the diflusersY are provided vinteriorly at each side of the partition 4I with vertical vanes or baiiles 44, 45, and 46, best shown in Fig. 4. The ends of these vanes adjacent the'neck v39 are aligned with the end of the partition 4|,

and the vanes are' spaced from each other and from. the partition 4I and the Aside wall.- 36. The vane 44 has a curvature corresponding generally to that bf the curved portion 48 of the wall 36 and extends throughout slightly more than 90 degrees so that air passing between it and the wall curve 48 is directed slightly rearwardly towards the edge of theassociated pass of material, rather than directly longitudinallyl thereof. The vanes 45 and 46 control the path of the air between the vane 44 and the walls 42 and- 43 and function to change the path of portions of the air at points ahead of the walls 42 and 43.

Preferably the vanes 45 and 46 terminate short of the edges of the diiuser top 31 and bottom 38, so that pivoted deflectors may be associated with these vanes. Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, adjacent the front ends of the vanes 45 and 46 the diffusers are provided with vertical pins 41- on which iiectors 48 serve to regulate the paths oi the air emitting from between the vanes 44 and-45, 45

and as; and 4s and che partition 4| and the wan 42 (or 43), and so make it possibleto have a more even discharge of air from the diusers than if merely stationary vanes were used.

"Stated inV another way, the deflectors 48 form partitions or dividers, as it were, for .the opening bounded by the top 31, -the bottom' 38, the side wall 42 (or 43), and the vane 44. Since the deectors 48 are pivoted, they .may be turned to vary the size of the discharge ends of the pas- -sages between the wall 42 (or 43) and the vane 46, between the `vane 46k and the vane 45, and between the vane 45 and the vane 44.

`The construction so far described provides for a uniform distribution of conditioned air across the passes of material from one side thereof to the other and in opposite directions longitudinally thereof. It will beapparent, however, that without further air guiding means than those above described, the air would be discharged from the diffusers in a direction parallelto the passes of material of the web material. Such a mode of operation would have a low efficiency because a considerable quantity of the air would not come into contact with the passes, and hence would not absorb moisture. In order to provide for the greatest eiiiciency, the present invention contemplates that the air, in addition-to being divided into two 'oppositely disposed currents by means of the partitions 4I and the walls, vanes, and vdeectors associated therewith, shall also be further divided into currents directed upwardj wardly of the. diffuser. YThe deilector 49 extends between the wall 43 (or 42) l and the outer end of the vane 44 as shown in Fig. 4. While the deector 58, which is shorter than the deiiector 49, extends between@` the outer end of the vane 44 and the end of the curved portion 48' of the side wall 36. The deflectors 49 and 58 are disposed to each other at an angle of slightly more than 90 degrees (Fig. 4) and are provided with ends 53 and 54, respectively. Referring to Figs. 3 and 5,particu1arly the latter, f, the curved walls 5I extendupwardly to a pointslightly below the plane of the diffuser top 31, thereby, with the `ends 53 and the top 31, defining for the deflector 43 a rectangular opening 55 and forthe dei-lector -deector 58 a rectangular opening 58 both of which openings are located adjacent the next succeeding lower pass oi' the material and through which air is discharged against the pass. It will be seen that with the above described construction, the curved walls I and 52 guide the air in the diifuser upwardly and downwardly, respectively, and that the p lane of the rectangular openings 55, 56, 51, and 58 are all inclined to the planes of the passes of web material, thereby causing the air discharged from the openings to strike the passes of material obliquely.

The diffusers B-2 through B-6 are each interposed between two adjacent passes of the web material, respectively, and are therefore constructed to discharge airV both upwardly and downwardly. -The diffuser B-l, however, is located above the end pass A-I, which is the rst provided with V-shaped deflectors like the deectors 49 and 50, the diffuser B-I is provided with deectors 60 and 6| (Fig. 1) similar to the walls 52, i. e.,`of a single curvature, extending downwardly and outwardly from the top .of the diifuser to a point slightly above the plane of the bottom of the diffuser. The deectors 66 and Y6| are provided at their opposite ends with walls 62 and 63, respectively, similar to the ends 53 and 54 of the deectors 49 and 50. The deector 60 `is longer than the deilector 6I, and is angularly disposed thereto, and the two deilectors dene, with the diffuser bottom and the ends 62 and 63, rectangular openings 64 and 65, respectively, through which air is discharged against the upper or outer face of the web pass A--L Preferably the diiuser B-.Ifis slightly larger than the diifusers B2 through B6, extending outwardly slightly beyond the side edges of the passes as shown in Fig. 1.

'I'he above described construction provides two kinds of guides for the air impelled by the blower.4 32 into the duct 33 and then against the passes of web material. The obliqueness of the planes of the rectangular diifuser openings to the planes of the passes insures that all the air Idischarged strikes the passes and does not -issue from the diifusers in a path parallel to the passes. The curved walls 36, the V-walls 42 .and 43, the vanes 44, 45, and 46, the deflectors 46, and the disposition of the rectangular diffuser openings angularly to each other insure by their cooperation that the air admitted into the necks 36 and 59 is spread evenly across the width of the passes of material. -Upon issuing from the diifusers, the impelled air strikes the adjacent faces of the passes and spreads therealong, both along their length and also from one side edge thereof to the other.- In effect, the discharged air forms a constantly moving blanket covering the entire faces of the passes and absorbing moisture therefrom as the air moves. As regards the passes A-I, A-4, A1, and A-IU, the air travelling laterallyalong one face o f the passes meets at the side edges thereof the air travelling laterally along the opposite face of these same passes.

Referring to Fig. 1, the bottom of the chamber, I6, adjacent the enclosure wall i3, is connected to a vertical main conduit 66 the upper 4 end of which extends through thesupport I1 to a point of junction with the chamber I6. Branch conduits 61, herein shown in Fig. 1 as four in number, extend from the main conduit 66 into a horizontal position through the tentering frame structure, and terminate with their mouths aligned in verticall spaced relationship adjacent the side of the passes of material opposite the side thereof at which the branch con- 1 duits 35 terminate.

Connected to each ofthe branch conduits 61 is a collector for collecting the air discharged -by the various diffusera B-I through'B-l.

These collectors are all alike, and are indicated in Fig. 1 at 'C-i, C-2, C-3, and C4. The collector C-I is located between the passes A-2 and A3, so as to collect air discharged against the passes A-I and A-2 by the diffusera B'-| and B2 and air discharged against the under surface of the pass A-6 by the diffuser B-3. The collector C-2 is located between the passes A-5 and A -6 so as to collect air discharged against the pass A5 by the diil'users B-4 and against the pass A--6 by the diffuser B-5. 'I'he air discharged against the opposite faces of the pass A-4 by the diifusers B-6 and B-4 is collected partly by the collector C--i and partly by the collector C-2. The collector C-3 is lo cated between the passes A-6 and A--9 so as'to collect air dischargedy against the pass A--6 by the diffuser B-6 and against the pass A-9 by the diifuser B-1. The air discharged against the pass A--1 by the diii'users B-5 and B6 is collected partly by the collector C-2 and'partly by the collector C-3. JThe collector C-4 islo cated between the passes A--II and A-i2 so as' to collect air discharged against the pass A-Il by the diiuser B-6. The air discharged against the pass A-l 0 is collected partly by the collector C-3 and vpartly by the collector C-4. As stated above, the under face of the pass A-II and the opposite faces of the pass A-I2 do not have a diffuser adjacent thereto, the reason being that as the travelling web reaches the eleventh and twelfth pass stages its moisture content is pratically that which the tentering operation seeks to achieve. `However, the collector C-4 is located between the passes A-ll and A -I2 to insure that there be a circulation of air about these passes as a nishing step to the drying operation.

Considering now the collectors in detail, each of the collectors C'I through -4 is roughly Y-shaped, as shown in Fig. 2, and is provided with a fiat top 66, a flat bottom 69 parallel to the top, and side walls 10. Thetop 66 and the three quarters or more of the way across the webA material, branching out into right and left hand portions (Fig. 2) from a point substantially midway of the ends of the passes of the web. The side walls 1|l extend only a short distance across the web and with the -top 66 and the bottom 69 form a neck 1 I for connection with an associated branch conduit 61. At their outer ends the side walls 10 are outwardly curved as shown at 12. Extending centrally between the side walls 10 from the plane of their juncture with the branch conduit 61 and connected to the top 66 'and the bottom 69 is a vertical double partition 13. As shown in Figs. 2I and 6, the double partition 13 extends along the top and bottom of the collector to the point where they branch oif, the partition. 13 from this point branching out in a.V to form vertical walls 14 and 15 joining the ein edges of the top 88 and the bottom 89. As shown in Fig. 2 the apex of the V formed by the walls 14 and 15 is directed inwardly of the collector and the walls are concaved inwardly of the collector also. Y,

In the construction just described, it will be seen that each of the collectors C-I through v(2l-4 comprises a conduit extending part way across the web of material and provided with intake mouths disposed away from each other and in the general direction of the opposite ends of the passes. By reason of this construction air travelling to the side edges of the passes of ma terial enters the collectors and is guided in'two currents by the V-walls '1l and 15, the top 68, the bottom 69, the partition 13 and the side walls 10 into the necks 1I and from there to the branch conduits 61 and the main conduit 66. The two currents merge at the branch conduits 61.

It was pointed out above that with the dif' fusersl B-I through B-8, vane and deector constructions are provided to insure an even discharge of air across the width of the web. A

similar construction is provided in the collectors C--I through C4 to' provide for the even collection of air. Viewing Figs. 2 and 6, it will be seen that the top 68 and the bottom 69 do not terminate in an edge extending in a straight line between the curve 12 of the side walls 10 and the free ends of the walls 14 and 15. Instead the top 68 and the bottom 69 extend a short distance lengthwise of the web in both directions along converging edges 16 and 11; Near the point of convergenceof these edges, the top 68 and the bottom 69 on each. side of the collectors support a vertical pin 18 on which is rotatably mounted a vertical deector 19 of such length as to extend substantially to the edges 16 or 11, as shown in Fig. 6. Extending from the pins 18 rearwardly into the neck 1l are curved vanes orxbaiiles 80', one on each side of the collector, supported by the top 68 and the bottom 69, and spaced from the partition 13 and the side walls 10. The curvature of the vanes 89 corresponds roughly with that of the walls 14 and 15, and provides that air entering the passage between the wall 15 and the deiiector 19 is not met by a cross current of air entering the passage between the deector 19 and the curved portions 12 of the side walls 1I).`

portion 12 of the side walls 19, the top 68, thebottom 69, and the deector 19 form an entrance on one side of each vane 80, and since the wall 14 (or 15), the top and bottom, and the deiiector 19 form an entrance on the other side of each vane 80, a swinging of a deector 19 varies the size of these two entrance-s` 'and so varies the amount of air that may ow into each. Preferably the marginal portions of the top 68 and the bottom 69 along the converging edges 16 andv 11 are provided with braces 9| positioned interiorly of the collectors.

The various collectors C-l through C-4 may directly underlie and overliethe respective diffusers B-'I through B-8 or may be placed slightly to one side thereof, as shown in Fig. 2. In either event the air discharged against the passes of material by the diffusers must travel along the passes to and over their side edges in order to nd an outlet in the collectors. The air collected by the collectors passes into the branch conduits 61 and from there .into the main conduit 66 after which it enters the chamber I8. The air in the chamber I8 may travel into the stack duct I9 or into the mixing chamber 22 or partly into each, as will be explained infra.

The diiusers B-I through B-8 and the collectors C-I through C-I above described are located intermediate the ends of the passes of material,v and so are constructed to discharge and collect air, respectively, in opposite directions. It is advisable,v however, that the ends of the passes as well as their mid portions be provided with diifusers and collectors so that the passes can be subjected throughout their length to the inuence of heated air and so that this iniiuence will be 'substantially uniform through-v out the entire surfaces of the passes. For this purpose at the left hand end of the passes, viewing Fig. 2, there is provided a collector and diffuser system, anda similar provision is made at the right hand end of the passes. 'I'hese two systems are identical in all respects with the diffusers B-I through B-8 and .thefcollectors C-I through C--4 with the one exception that they are single as opposed to the ldiifusers -B-I through B-8 and the collectors C-I through C-I which are double. Stated in anotherway, the single diffuser atl the left in Fig. 2 has the same shape as the right hand portion of the double diffuser shown in Fig. 2 and the right hand single diffuser in Fig. 2 has the same shape as the left hand portion of the double diffuser shown in Fig. 2. Likewise the left and right single collectors in Fig. 2 have the same shape as the right and left hand portions, respectively, of the double collector shown in Fig. 2.

These single diiusers and collectors are located vertically with respect to each other and to the passes of material in the same manner as the double collectors and diii'users are located, and function the same way. Theleft hand dliusers receive air from a main conduit 82 which may the heating, etc. arrangement shown above the support I1 in Fig. 1.l The left hand collectors convey air into a main conduit 83 which may be connected t9 the main conduit 66 or which may lead to a chamber (not shown) corresponding to the chamber I8 (Fig.f1) but which forms a part of a duplicate of the heating, etc. arrangement shown above the support I1. The right hand diffusers in Fig. 2 are. connected toa main conduit 8l which receives air in the same manner that the main conduit 82 does, and the right hand collectors in Fig. 2 are connected to a main vconduit 85 for conveying away the collected air inthe same manner as done by the main conduit 83; In a similar manner, there may be more than one of the double diffuser and collectorsystems in addition to the two systems of single diffusers and collectors shown or only two systems of single diffusers and collectors may be used, depending upon mill arrangements. 'I'he underlying idea is to subject the entire surfaces of the passes of material evenly and uniformly to the inuence of conditioned air discharged between passes and to convey the air away in such manner that this can be achieved-andthis can be brought -about by other arrangements than the specific one shown in Fig..2. y

The passes of web material are relatively long and sag to a certain extent between their points oi' support in the'tentering frame. As the diusers and collectors, both single and double type, are positioned closely adjacent the passes, it is advisable to provide the diffusers and collectors with suitable guides so that the web does not catch lon projecting points or edges. Referring to Figs. 3, 4, and 5, these guides comprise curved bands 86 the free ends of which are connected to the top 31 and the bottom 38 of the diffusers B-2 through B--8, so that the curved portion of the band extends outwardly from the diffuser. As shown in Fig. 3, one band is located near the V-wall 43 Aand the other band is located so as to extend betweenthe adjacent ends- 58- and 5l of the deectors 89 and 50,. It will be understood that both the right and left hand'portions of the double diifusers are provided with guides 86. 'I'he diffuser B-I is provided with a pair of guides 81 identical in construction and position with the bands 86. Only one guide is necessary for each of the single type collectors and for each side of the double type collectors. These guides are formed by bands 88 (Figs. 6 and 7) like the bands 86 andv 8l, and are positioned so as to project in front of the apices formed by the converging edges 16 and 'Il of the collector tops 68 and bottoms 69. With these guide constructions, the passes of the web material cannot contact sharp corners or edges andare thus .protected from injury during their travel through the tentering frame.

In order to utilize the present invention to treat a web of material by restoring tothe web a quantity of moisture to compensate for that driven out by some operation carried on under heat, a suitable humidifying element such as a water spray nozzle 88, conventionally shown in Fig. 1, may be provided in the duct 30 so as to be located between the heat exchange element 29 and the blower 32. The nozzle 88 when not in use does not interfere with the operation of the illustrated embodiment as a dryer. Since it is desirable to control the humidity of the air a humidostat (not' shown) may be employed.'

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that the 4operation of the illustrated embodiment of the present invention will be readily understood. Air which is conditioned by the heat exchange element 29 is impelled by the blower 32 into the main conduits leading to the diffusers, from which it is discharged` evenly and uniformly against the adjacent passes of web material. The portion ofthe material which dries slowest determines the rate at which the web is run through the machine, and since the discharged air spread uniformly over the passes, there is no opportunity for uneven drying and shading effects. Since the air does not travel through Vthe material because of the texture thereof, the

air travels over the material to its side edges,

insuring their drying as completely as that of the interior portion of the material away from its side edges. After travelling over the side edges of the material the air is collected by the various collectors and is conveyed away to the chamber, or chambers, I8.

What happens to the air'conveyed to the chamber i8 depends upon the position of the dampers 2|, 24, and 21, which in turn depends upon the humidity of the air within the tentering frame' enclosure. This humidity may be determined by an`y suitable hygrometer (not shown). Dependsure, the air conveyed to the chamber I8 may be and explanation.

entirely discharged to the atmosphere through the stack duct I9 or any desired portion of the air may be admitted to the mixing chamber. 22 for re-circulation through the diifusers and collectors. During the admission of any re-circulated air into the mixing chamber 22, the perforated plate 28 functions to lter from the recirculated air any lint that may have been received and entrained by the air during a previous discharge against the web material.

Nothing herein explained is to be interpreted as limiting the present invention in the scope of it application to use in connection with the-particular apparatus or particularmode of operation or'both selected for purposes of illustration It will be apparent that the present invention is capable of use with web conveyors other than tentering frames, and with web materials other than textile fabrics. While the particular construction herein set forth is well suited to one mechanical form of the invention, it is not limited to these details of construction, nor to the conjoint use of all its features, nor is it to be understood that these particulars are essential since they and the vsteps of the methods disclosed may be variously modified within the skill of the artisan without departing from the true scope of the actual invention, characterizing features of which are set forth in the following claims bythe intentional use of generic terms and expressions inclusive of various modifications.

What is claimed as new is:

1. An apparatus for treating a web of material provided .with a plurality of passes having, in combination, a conduit, a blower for causing air to flow into the conduit, means connected to the conduit for discharging air, impelled by the blower, vertically againstthe opposite faces of one of the passes and against the non-adjacent facesv of two other adjacent passes inopposite directions across the web from one side thereof to the other and lengthwise of the web towards its opposite ends, at least one collector located between the adjacent faces of said two other passes for collecting the discharged air, and means for conveying away the air collected.

2. An apparatus for treating a web of material provided with a plurality of passesl having. in combination, a conduit, a blower for causing air to flow into the conduit, means connected to the conduit for discharging air, impelled by the b1ow. er, vertically4 against the opposite faces of one of said passes, against the non-adjacent faces of the next succeeding two passes, and against at least one faceof the pass next succeeding said two passes in opposite directions across the web from one side thereof to the other andl lengthwise of the web towards its opposite ends, at least one collector located between said two passes for collecting the discharged air, and means for conveying away the collected air.

3. An apparatus for treating a web of material provided with twelve passes having, in combination, a conduit, a blower for causing air -to flow into the conduit, means connected to the conduit for discharging air, impelled by the blower, against the outer face of the first pass and also against the adjacent faces of the'iirst and second, third and fourth, "fourth and fifth, sixth and seventh, seventh and eighth, ninth and tenth, and tenth' and eleventh passes, at least one collector located between the adjacent faces, respectively, of the second and third, fifth and sixth, eighth and ninth, and eleventh and twelfth passes tor collecting the discharged' air. and means for conveying away the -air collected.

4. 'An apparatus for treating a web of material provided with a plurality of substantially parallel passes having, in combination, a conduit, a blower for causing air to ow into the conduit, means connected to the conduit for discharging air, im-

pelled by the blower, against the opposite faces l of less than all the passes, means connected to o the conduit for discharging air impelled by the those receiving impelled air against their opposite faces, the number of passes receiving air against only one face being twice as many. less one, as the number of passes receiving impelled air against their opposite faces, means for collecting the vdischarged air, said fourth-named means being located between passes against the opposite faces of which air is not discharged and means for conveying away the air collected.

CHARLES P. 

